TÀI LIỆU ÔN TẬP THI TỐT NGHIỆP MÔN TIẾNG ANH Năm học 2010- 2011 Part 21 pdf

TÀI LIỆU ÔN TẬP THI TỐT NGHIỆP MÔN TIẾNG ANH
Năm học 2010- 2011
Part 21
UNIT 1 :
Choose the item (A, B, C or D) that best completes the unfinished
statement (or best answers the ) about each passage.
John Fisher, a builder, and his wife Elizabeth wanted more living
space, so they left their small flat for an old 40-metre-high castle tower.
They have spent five years turning it into a beautiful home with six floors,
winning three architectural prizes.
‘I love the space, and being private,' Elizabeth says. 'You feel
separated from the world. If I'm in the kitchen, which is 25 metres above
the ground floor, and the doorbell rings, I don't have to answer it because
visitors can't see I'm in!'
'There are 142 steps to the top, so I go up and down five or six times a
day, it's very good exercise! But having to carry heavy things to the top is
terrible, so I never buy two bags of shopping from the supermarket at a
time. Apart from that, it's a brilliant place to live.'
'When we first saw the place, I asked my father's advice about buying
it, because we couldn't decide. After paying for it, we were a bit worried
because it looked awful. But we really loved it, and knew how we wanted it
to look.'
'Living here can be difficult - yesterday I climbed a four-metre ladder
to clean the windows. But when you stand on the roof you can see all the
way out to sea on a clear day, and that's a wonderful experience. I'm really
glad we moved.'
1. What is the writer trying to do in the text?
A. Describe how to turn an old tower into a house.
B. Recommend a particular builder
C. Describe what it is like to live in a tower
D. Explain how to win prizes for building work

2. From this text, a reader can find out
A. Why visitors are not welcome at John and Elizabeth's house.
B. Why Elizabeth exercises every day.
C. Why Elizabeth asked her father to buy the tower.
D. Why John and Elizabeth left the flat.
3. Which of the following best describes Elizabeth's feelings about the
tower?
A. She wanted it as soon as she saw it.
B. She likes most things about it.
C. She has been worried since they paid for it.
D. She finds it unsuitable to live in.
4. What problem does Elizabeth have with living in such a tall building?
A. Her visitors find it difficult to see if she is at home.
B. She feels separated from other people.
C. She cannot bring home lots of shopping at once.
D. It is impossible to clean any of the windows.
5. They were rather worried after paying for the castle because
A. they really couldn't afford it. B. it was about to collapse.
C. it looked terrible at first. D. they were unable to take care of such
a large house.
READING
Read the passage and choose the best answer A, B, C or D to each .
During the teenage years, many young people can at times be difficult to
talk to. They often seem to dislike being ed. They may seem unwilling to talk
about their work in school. This is a normal development at this age, though it can
be very hard for parents to understand. It is part of becoming independent of
teenagers trying to be adult while they are still growing up. Young people are
usually more willing to talk if they believe that are asked out of real interest and
not because people are trying to check up on them.
Parents should do their best to talk to their sons or daughters about school

work and future plan but should not push them to talk if they don’t want to.
Parents should also watch for the danger signs: some young people in trying to be
adult may experiment with sex, drugs, alcohol or smoking. Parents need to watch
for any signs of unusual behaviour which may be connected with these and get
help if necessary.
1. This passage is taken from a…………
A. handbook for parents B. school timetable.
C. teenage magazine D. book for children
2. Why do adults sometimes find teenagers difficult to talk to?
A. because most teenagers are quiet.
B. because teenagers don’t want to talk to other people.
C. because teenagers think adults are not honest
D. because most teenagers hate adults.
3. When can you expect young people to be more talkative than usual?
A. when people talk to them because they are really interested and not just
checking on them.
B. when adults give them a lot of money to spend.
C. when adults talk to them about something other than their work in
school.
D. when adults talk to them about sex, alcohol and drugs.
4. Some teenagers experiment with drinking and smoking because
A. cigarettes and alcohol are available everywhere
B. cigarettes and alcohol are cheap
C. women like smoking and drinking them
D. they regard them as a mark of adulthood.
5. The word BEHAVIOUR in the passage most nearly means.
A. feeling B. manners C. activities D. reaction
READING
Read the passage and choose the best answer A, B, C or D to each .
Parents send their children to school to prepare for the time when they grow

up. Children learn their native language so that they will be able to communicate
fluently with other people around them. Moreover,they can preserve the valuable
culture and literature of their country.They learn foreign languages in order to
benefit from other country’s heritage. The more foreign languages they learn, the
more benefits they get. Children also learn maths to calculate, geography to know
about nature, and history to know about human beings and historical events.
Nearly everything they study at school has some practical uses in their life.
1. How many school subjects are mentioned in the passage ?
A. five B. six C. seven D. four
2. According to the passage ,children learn history to know about
A. the mankind B. events of the history.
C. people and historical events. D. practical uses of life
3. Why do children have to learn their native language ?
A. To learn foreign languages
B. To communicate fluently with other people around them.
C. To know about nature
D. To benefit from foreign countries’ heritage
4. Most of the things children learn at school
A. are useless B. have no uses
C. are not necessary D. have some practical uses.
5. Parents send their children to school to
A. learn English B. make them grow up
C. prepare for their future D. play better
READING COMPREHENSION
The nuclear family, consisting of a mother, father, and their children, may
be more an American ideal than an American reality. Of course, the so-called
traditional American family was always more varied than we had been led to
believe, reflecting the very different racial, ethnic, class, and religious customs
among different American groups.
The most recent government statistics reveal that only about one third of all

current American families fit the traditional mold and another third consists of
married couples who either have no children or have none still living at home.Of
the final one third, about 20 percent of the total number of American household
are single people, usually women over sixty –five years of age. A small
percentage, about 3 percent of the total, consists of unmarried people who choose
to live together; and the rest, about 7 percent are single, usually divorced parents,
with at least one child. Today, these varied family types are typical, and therefore,
normal. Apparently, many Americans are achieving supportive relationships in
family forms other than the traditional one.
1. With what topic is the passage mainly concerned?
A. The traditional American family B. The nuclear family
C. The current American family D. The ideal family
2. The writer implies that __________
A. there have always been a wide variety of family arrangement in the
United States
B. racial, ethnic, and religious have preserved the traditional family structure
C. the ideal American family is the best structure
D. fewer married couples are having children
3. The word “current” in line 7 could best be replaced by which of the following?
A.typical B. present C. perfect D. traditional
4. According to the passage, married couples whose children have grown or who
have no children represent __________.
A. 1/3 percent of households B. 20 percent of households
C. 7 percent of households D. 3 percent of households
5. Who gerneally constitutes a one- person household?
A. A single man in his twenties B. An elderly man
C. A single woman in her late sixties D. A divorced woman
READING COMPREHENSION
In the United States and Canada, it is very important to look a person
directly in the eyes when you are having a conversation with him or her. If you

look down or to the side when the other person is talking, that person will think
that you are not interested in what he or she is saying. This, of course, is not polite.
If you look down or to the side when you are talking, you may appear to be hiding
something; that is, it might seem that you are not honest. However, people who are
speaking will sometimes look away for a few seconds when they are thinking or
trying to find the right word. But they always turn immediately back to look the
listener directly in the eyes. These social “rules” are the same for two men, two
women, a man and a woman, or an adult and a child.
1. In the US and Canada, when you are having a conversation with someone,
________.
A. do not look directly in the eyes
B. it is impolite to look at the eyes of the speaker or hearer
C. you should look him or her directly in the eyes
D. look down or to the side
2. If you look down or to the side when the other person is talking, you ________.
A. will be thought to be not interested in the conversation
B. are very interested in what is being said
C. are very polite
D. are the interesting person
3. If you look down or to the side when you are talking,________.
A. the Americans are interested in you
B. you are thought to be dishonest
C. you are very polite
D. you are interested in the conversation
4. The speaker will sometimes look away because ___________.
A. he or she wants to end the conversation
B. he or she thinks that the hearer is not honest
C. the hearer is interested in what is being said
D. because they are thinking or finding the right word
5. These social “rules” are ________.

A. for men only B. for women only
C. for children only D. the same for everybody
READING COMPREHENSION
If you invite an American friend to join you to have dinner in a restaurant,
phone the rstaurant first to find out if you need a reservation to avoid a long wait
for a table. To make a reservation, just give your name, the number of people in
your group, and the time you plan to arrive. When you invite someone to dinner,
you should be prepared to pay the bill and reach for it when it arrives. However, if
your companion insists on paying his or her share, do not get into argument about
it. Some people prefer to pay their own way so that they do not feel indebted, and
those feelings should be respected. In most American restaurants, the waiter or
waitress’s tip is not added to the bill. If the service was adequate, it is customary to
leave a tip equal to about 15% of the bill. In expensive restaurants, leave a bit
more.
1. When you invite an American friend to have dinner in a restaurant ________.
A. a reservation is not necessary
B. you should make a reservation
C. there are always many tables available for you
D. you always have to wait for a long time
2. To make a reservation, you _________.
A. just give your name, the time you arrive and how many persons there
are in your group
B. have to give your address, the time you arrive and how many persons there
are in your group
C. just give your name, the time you arrive and your address
D. just give your name, the time you arrive and your telephone number
3. When you invite someone to dinner, you ________.
A. let hime to pay himself B. should prepare to pay the bill
C. give the bill to him D. share the bill with him
4. If your companion insists in paying his share, ________.

A. do not agree
B. it will be impolite
C. you should let him pay as he expects
D. you should get into argument with him
5. In most American restaurants, ________.
A. the tip is added to the bill
B. the tip is about 15% of the bill
C. you should not give the tip to waiters or waitresses
D. waiters and waitresses never get the tip

UNIT 3 :
1. Choose the item (A, B, C or D) that best answers the about the
passage:
Ever since humans inhabited the earth, they have made use of various
forms of communication. Generally, this is expression of thoughts and feelings has
been in the form of oral speech. When there is a language barrier, communication
is accomplished through sign language in which motions stand for letters, words,
and ideas. Tourists, the deaf, and the mute have had to make use of this form of
expression. Many of these symbols of whole words are very picturesque, and
exact, and can be use internationally; spelling, however, cannot.
Body language transmits ideas or thoughts by certain actions, either
intentionally or unintentionally. A wink can be away of flirting of indicating that
the party is only joking. A nod signifies nonlinguistic language can be found in
Braille ( a system of raise dots read with the fingertips), signal flags. Morse code,
and smoke signals. Road maps and picture signs also guide, warn, and instruct
people. While verbalization is the most common form of language, other systems
and techniques also express human thoughts and feelings.
1. Which of the following best summarizes the passage?
A. When language is a barrier, people will find other forms of
communication.

B. Everyone uses only one form of communication.
C. Nonlinguistic language is invaluable to foreigners.
D. Although other forms of communication exist, verbalization is the fastest.
2. Which of the following statements is NOT true?
A. There are many forms of communication in existence today.
B. Verbalization is the most common form of communication.
C. The deaf, and the mute use an oral form of communication.
D. Ideas and thoughts can be transmitted by body language.
3. Which form other than oral speech would be the most communication used
among blind people?
A. picture signs
B. Braille
C. Body language
D. Signal flags
4. How many different form of communication are mentioned here?
A. 5
B. 7
C. 9
D. 11
5. Sign language is said to be very picturesque and exact and can be used
internationally except for _______.
A. Spelling
B. Ideas
C. Whole words
D. Expressions.
2. Read the following passage then answer the 1 – 5. After each there
are four possible answers marked A, B, C or D. Choose the correct answer by
circling its corresponding letter A, B, C or D.
Do you ever give excuses that are not really true? When and why? It seems
that everybody tells lies – well, not big lies, but what we call “white lies”. The

only real are about when we lie and who we tell lies to. A recent study found that
in conversation people frequently stretch the truth. Here are some ways they do it.
People often lie because they want to hide some thing from someone. For
example, a son doesn’t tell his parents that he is dating a girl because he doesn’t
think they will like her. In stead, he says he is going to out with the guys.
Sometimes people lie because they don’t want to do something. For
example, someone invites you to a party. You think it will be boring so you say
that you are busy and can’t come.
Often we stretch the truth to make someone feel good. For example, your
friend cooks dinner for you, but it tastes terrible. Do you say so? No! You
probably say “Hmm, this is delicious!”
Other times we don’t want to tell someone bad news. For example, you
have just ad bad day at work, but you don’t want to talk about it. So, if someone
asks about your day, you just say everything was fine.
Telling “white lies” isn’t really bad. Most of the time people do it because
they want to protect a friendship.
1. Why do people often tell lies?
A. Because they like it.
B. Because they feel amused.
C. Because they don’t like the person who asks them about their stories.
D. Because they want to hide something.
2. Sometimes people lie by _____________
A. Giving false excuse
B. Telling stories
C. Saying something quite new
D. Making someone feel good.
3. A son doesn’t want to tell his parents that he is dating a girl because
he ______ so he tells lies.
A. is ashamed
B. is afraid that his parents don’t like her.

C. want to keep it secret
D. is very reserved.
4. Your friend cooks you a terrible dinner but you say you like it
because ______.
A. You want him/her to cook for you more.
B. You like telling lies
C. You want to encourage him/her.
D. You want to protect your friendship.
5. Everyone sometimes tells lies because _______.
A. It is very good.
B. It isn’t really all bad.
C. It makes him/her fell happier.
D. It is a habit of human beings.
UNIT 2 :
I. Read the passage and choose the best answers to the :
In the United States, it is important to be on time, or puntual, for an
apointment, a class, a meeting, ect. This may not be true in some other countries,
however. An American professor discovered this difference while teaching a class
in a Brazilian university. The two-hour class was scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.,
and end at 12 a.m. On the first day, when the professor arrived on time, no one
was in the classroom. Many students came after 10 a.m. Several arrived after
10:30 a.m. Two students came after 11 a.m. Although all the students greeted the
professor as they arrived, few apologized for their lateness. Were these students
being rude ? He decided to study the students’ behaviour. (…)
In an American university, students are expected to arrive at the apointed
hour. In contrast, in Brazil, neither the teacher nor the students always arrive at the
apointed hour. Classes not only begin at the schedudled time in the United States,
but they also end at the schedudled time. In the Brazilian class, only a few students
left class at noon: many remained past 12:30 to discuss the class and ask more .
While arriving late may not be very important in Brazil, neither is staying late.

The explanation for these differences in complicated. People from Brazilian
and North American cultures have different feelings about lateness. In Brazil, the
students believe that a person who usually arrives late is probably more successful
than a person who is always on time. In fact, Brazilians expect a person with status
or prestige to arrive late, while in the United States, lateness is usually considered
to be disrespectful and unacceptable. Consequently, if a Brazilian is late for an
appointment with a North American, the American may misinterpret the reason for
the lateness and become angry.
As a result of his study, the professor learned that the Brazilian students were
not being disrespectful to him. Instead, they were simply behaving the appropriate
way for a Brazilian student in Brazil. Eventually, the professor was able to adapt
his own behaviour to feel comfortable in the new culture.
1. What is the main idea of this passage ?
A. It is important to be on time for class in the United States.
B. People learn the importance of time when they are children.
C. It is not important to be on time in Brazil.
D. The importance of being on time differs among different cultures.
2. What is “rude behaviour” ?
A. impolite behaviour
B. noisy behaviour
C. studious behaviour
D. respectful behaviour
3. Why did the professor study the Brazilian students’ behaviour ?
A. The students seemed very rude to him.
B. He wanted to understand why the students came late.
C. He wanted to make the students come to class on time.
D. None of the students apologized for their lateness.
4. In general, what did the Brazilian students think about people who are late ?
A. They are important people.
B. They are successful people.

C. They are disrespectful people.
D. They are rude people.
5. It can be inferred from the passage that ………………
A. Most American students arrive after tha class has begun.
B. Most Brazilian students leave immediately when the class is finished.
C. For most Americans, being late is unacceptable.
D. Brazilian students often come late andleave early.
UNIT 2 :
Read the passage and choose the best answers to the :
In the U.S, men and women choose their own spouses. They do this by dating.
When they decide on a spouse, they get engaged. They do not need their parents’
consent. The man usually gives the woman an engagement ring. Before a weeding,
the bride’s women friends and relatives usually have a party for her. It is called a
shoer. At the shower, everyone gives the bride a present for her future home. The
groom’s men friends also give him a party. It is called a bachelor party. The
purpose of this party is to give the groom one last good time as a single man.
Sometimes young people pay for their own weeding. This is especially true if
they have been working for a while. In other cases, the family of the bride pays for
most of the weeding and reception afterward.
1. In the U.S, men and women …………………….don’t have to pay attention to
the law when they get married.
A. must have their parents’ permission if they are supposed to get married.
B. must win their friends’ agreement if they are supposed to get married.
C. could have their own choice in the matter of marriage.
2. At the bachelor party, the groom ………………
A. must prove to be good future husband.
B. must promise to behave properly at the weeding.
C. could have one good last time as a bachelor.
D. could have one last chance of freedom.
3. According to the passage, young people ………………………….

A. can ask for parental help to pay for the weeding.
B. can borrow from their friends to pay for the weeding.
C. at times pay for the weeding.
D. completely rely on the families for their weeding.
4. The word “consent” most nearly means ……………
A. Order B. request C. agreement D. remarks
5. The word “present” most nearly means ……………
A. piece of furniture B. gifts
C. a piece of advice D. gift
Unit 4:
I. Read the passage and choose the best answer.
Increasing numbers of parents in the US are choosing to teach their kids at
home. The US Department of Education estimated that in 1999, around 850,000
children were being homeschooled. Originally, homescholing was used for
students who couldn’t attend school because of learning difficulties. Today,
however, more parents are taking on the responsibility of educating their children
at home due to dissatisfaction with the educational system relating to class size or
problems inside the classroom, for example violence.
Advocates of homeschooling believe that children learn better when they are
in a secure, loving environment. They can also pick and choose what and when to
study, which enables them to learn at their own pace. In contrast, critics of
homeschooling say that children who are not in classroom miss out on learning
important social skills because they have little interaction with their peers.
Moreover, they have raised concerns about the ability of parents to teach their kids
effectively because they are not competent educators and have no teacher training.
Whatever the arguments for or against it, homeschooling in the USA is
growing. There are now websites, support groups that enable parents to learn more
about educating children. Homeschooling today is an accepted alternative to an
educational system that some believe is failing.
1. What is the topic of the above selection?

A). Different ideas about homeschooling.
B). A new way to learn in the USA: Homeschooling.
C). The advantages of getting education at home.
D). Parents in the USA want to teach their children at home.
2. One of the reasons why parents don’t want to send children to school is that
A). there are too many pupils in a class.
B). children learn what they choose.
C). there is violence at home.
D). parents want to be good educators.
3. The underlined word peers in the passage means
A). members. B). classmates. C). groups
D). partners
4. Parents can learn more to teach their children effectively from
A). the Department of Education. B). their social skills.
C). the present educational system. D). websites.
5. From the passage, we can come to understand that
A). homeschooling is only for troubled children.
B). few parents take their children out of class in the USA.
C). homeschooling is acceptable in the USA.
D). traditional education is the best in the USA.

II. Read the passage and choose the best answer.
At the beginning of nineteenth century, the American educational system
was desperately in need of reform. Private schools existed, but only for the very
rich. There were very few public schools because of the strong sentiment that
children who would grow up to be laborers should not “waste” their time on
education but should instead prepare themselves for their life’s work. It was in the
face of this public sentiment that educational reformers set about their task.
Horace Mann, probably the most famous of the reformers, felt that there was no
excuse in a republic for any citizen to be uneducated. As superintendent of

Education in the state of Massachusetts from 1837 to 1848, he initiated various
changed, which were soon matched in other school districts around the country.
He extended the school year from five to six months and improved the quality of
teachers by instituting teacher education and raising teacher salaries. Although
these changes did not bring about a sudden improvement in the educational
system, they at least increased public awareness as to the need for a further
strengthening of the system.
1. The best title for the passage could be ………
A). A Flight for change
B). Nineteenth – the Century of Reform.
C). American Education in the Beginning of the 19
th
Century.
D). The Beginnings of Reform in American Education
2. The passage implied that to go to a private school, a student needed ………….
A). a strong educational background
B). good grades
C). a lot of money
D). a high level of intelligence
3. The word “desperately” in the passage mostly means ………
A). completely B). partly C). obviously
D). urgently
4. According to the passage, Horace Mann wanted a better educational system for
Americans because …………
A). people had nothing else to do except go to school
B). education at the time was so cheap
C). all citizens should be educated in a republic
D). Massachusetts residents needed something to do with their spare time
5. According to the passage, which sentence is NOT TRUE?
A). Horace Mann brought about changes in many schools in the United States.

B). Horace Mann began raising teacher’s salaries.
C). Horace Mann was a famous US educational reformer.
D). Horace Mann suggested schools prepare children for their life’s work.

B. Read the text carefully , then choose the correct answer( A,B,C or D)
Vietnam’s women gymnasts were jubilant on Friday afternoon after unexpectedly
bringing home the god medal in team competition.
“ We did really well” said a bubbling Tran Thi Phuong Th. She was competing in
her first SEA Games. She spoke at the door of the room she shares with teammates
in the La Thanh Hotel, where she had just had time to change clothes in
preparation for the opening ceremonies. Behind her, three of her fellow gymnasts
were huddled around the telephone giggling.
Dao Thi L.,who had the fifth-best score in the floor exercise, was unavailable for
comment, as she was running down the hallway in a T-shirt and boxer
shorts,shrieking.
Vietnam’s women narrowly edged out the silver medalists from Singapore. The
total scores were 124,550 and 124,425, respectively. Thailand finished third with
123,850.
Malaysia’s three gymnasts had the highest individual scores. But because most
other yeams fielded six gymnasts each, the Malaysians earned fewer total points.
“ I was so happy”, glowed Phn Thi Ha Th., a tiny 13-year-old girl in starling green
eyeshadow. “ And surprised. I’ve never competed in a big tournament before.” Ha
Th. Has been training since age six, practising seven to eight per day. She hadn’t
yet had time to speak with her parents, a nurse and a meteorologist from her home
town, but was sure they would be very proud.
1- How were the Vietnam’s women gymnasts after they won the gold medal
in team competition?
A. They were very surprised
B. They didn’t believe they had won
C. They were delighted and showed a great happiness

D. They were so happy that they couldn’t say a word
2- How many times had Tran Thi Phuong Th. participated in SEA Games?
A. Once B. Twice C. Three times D. Four time
3- Which women team won the silver medal?
A. Malaysia B. Thailand C. vietnam D. Singapore
4- Why did the Malaysians get fewer total points?
A. beccause other teams had six gymnasts each.
B. Because Malaysia’s three gymnasts had the highest individual scores.
C. Because Vietnam’s women narrowly edged out the silver medalists from
Singapore.
D. Because Malaysia’s gymnasts had the lowest iindividual scores
5- How long has Ha th. been training?
A. Six years B. Seven years C. Eight years D. thirteen years
BRITISH POLITENESS

Do you, learners of English, ever wonder whether repeating and trying to
remember various everyday English expressions, such as ‘Excuse me, could you
tell me where the nearest taxi rank is?’ has any value other than in exams? Well, I
must admit that such things didn’t cross my mind until last February when I got a
letter from the British Council, saying that I had won a language course in
England. The polite mentioned was the one I had to ask on arrival in Parkston, a
picturesque part of Poole with lots of semi-detached houses on either side of each
street. What struck me most was the kindness of an old lady, who happened to
leave Safeway’s just after my getting off the coach. Not only did she show me
where to phone for a taxi, but she also gave me a hand with the luggage. I was
really surprised, too, when the taxi driver got out of the car and helped me put the
bags into the boot. I immediately thought of Polish taxi drivers who usually do not
make the slightest effort to help you, apart from pressing the right button and
waiting for the boot to open.
In spite of all the stereotypes about reluctance towards foreigners, the

English turn out to be an extreme polite and open nation.

1. According to the passage, where does the author come from?
a. England b. Poland c. Parkston D.
Poole
2. How did the old lady help the author?
a. Showed her where to phone for a taxi
b. Gave her a hand with the luggage
c. Put her luggage in the boot
d. Both A and B are correct
3. What does the author think of the English?
a. They are very polite and open
b. They are always reluctant towards foreigners
c. They are kind-hearted
d. They care a lot about others’ business
4. What did the author see when arriving in Parkston?
a. The picturesque part of Poole
b. The semi-detached houses
c. The British Council building
d. The coach
5. What is NOT true according to the passage?
a. The author won a language course in England
b. The author met a kind lady when she first arrived in Parkston
c. The author was surprised by the enthusiastic help of the British
driver
d. The author thinks that everyday English expressions have no
practical values

 Answer key:
1. B 2. D 3. A 4. B 5. D

Although speech is the most advanced form of communication, there are
many ways of communicating without using speech. Signals, signs,
symbols, and gestures may be found in every known culture. The main
function of a signal is to impinge upon the environment in such a way
that it attracts attention, as for example, the dots and dashes of a
telegraph circuit. Coded to refer to speech, the potential for
communication is very great. Less adaptable to the codification of
words, signs also contain meaning in and of themselves. A stop sign or
a barber pole conveys meaning quickly and more difficult to describe
than either signals or signs because of their intricate relationship with
the receiver’s cultural perceptions. In some cultures, applauding in a
theatre provides performers with an auditory symbol of approval.
Gestures such as waving and handshaking also communicate certain
cultural messages.
Although signals, signs, symbols, and gestures are very useful, they do
have a major disadvantage. They usually do not allow ideas to be shared without
the sender being directly adjacent to the receiver. As a result, means of
communication intended to be used for long distances and extended periods are
based on speech. Radio, television and the telephone are only a few.

1. Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?
a. Signs, Signals, and Symbols b. Gestures
c. Communication d. Speech
2. What does the author say about speech?
a. That it is the only true form of communication.
b. That it is dependent upon the advances made by inventors.
c. That it is necessary for communication to occur.
d. That it is the most advanced form of communication.
3. Applauding was cited as an example of …
a. A sign b. a signal c. a symbol d. a

gesture
4. Why were the telephone, radio, and TV invented?
a. Because people were unable to understand signs, symbols, and
signals.
b. Because people wanted to communicate across long distances.
c. Because people believed that signals and symbols were obsolete.
d. Because people wanted new forms of entertainment.
5. It may be concluded form this passage that …
a. Signals, signs, symbols, and gestures are forms of
communication.
b. Symbols are very easy to define and interpret.
c. Only some cultures have signals and symbols.
d. Waving and handshaking are not related to culture.

 Answer key:
1. D 2. D 3. C 4. B 5. A
READING 1- UNIT 4
The year at an American college is divided into two semesters or three
quarters. A semester includes 15 weeks ; a quarter includes 10 weeks. American
college students usually go to school from September to May. They can also study
during the summer.
Students choose their classes a few weeks before the start of each term.
Universities and colleges offer a great many classes in the students’ main areas of
study and in other areas as well. Students must take both. These include science,
math, computer, history and English. Other classes such as dance, theater, or
sports may be just for fun. Tests are usually given in the middle of the term and at
the end. The final exam is extremely important. In some classes, the professor ask
the students to write a research paper or complete a certain task instead of taking a
test.
Classes at an American college are usually organized through lectures.

For example, a student may attend two or three lectures a week by one professor.
There may be as many as several hundred students at each lecture.
1. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?
A. The years at an American college usually starts in September.
B. There are 15 weeks in each semester and 10 weeks in each
quarter.
C. American college students never study during the summer.
D. The year at an American college is divided into two semesters
or three quarters.
2. American college students choose their classes________________.
A. before the start of each term
B. at the end of each term
C. at any time during the term
D. in the first week of each term
3. Which of the following courses is NOT mentioned in the passage?
A. Science. B. Medicine. C. History.
D. Dance.
4. Usually, an American college student takes_______ tests in a term.
A. four B. two C. five D.
three
5. The final exam is________.
A. very important B. less important C. not important
D. just for fun
READING 2-UNIT4
The Korean education system basically consists of primary schools,
secondary schools, high schools, and colleges or universities, with graduate coures
leading to ph.D. degrees. Primary education is compulsory for children aged six to
seven. The basic pimary school curriculum is generally divided into eight subjects:
the Korean language, social studies, science, mathematics, ethics, physical
education, music and fine arts. Students in secondary schools are required to take a

numbers of additional subjects, such as Enghlish, and can take clectives, such as
technical or vocational coures. Afterwards, students can choose between general
education and vocational high schools. In general, high school tends to be strict, as
college and university admission is very competitive.
1. It can be inferred that secondary school students________________
A. have to take technical and vocation courses
B. have to take at least nine subjects
C. can choose to take a technical course or not
D. don’t have to study the Korean language
2. Basically the Korean education education system is divided
into_________
A. four levels
B. two levels
C. three levels
D. five levels
3. It can be inferred the text that_________
A.children from six to eleven have to attend primary school.
B. primary education is option for the children under eleven.
C.primary education is compulsory for children under six.
D.All the above
4. According to the passage_________
A. It’s quite difficult to enter a college or university.
B. most student go to vocation high schools after finishing secondary
school
C. Korean high school tend to be quite easy
D. general education is easier than vocational high school
5. According to the passage, the basic primary school
curriculum______________
A. consists of eight subjects
B. is the same as the secondary school curriculum

C. includes foreign languages
D. Both A and C